Steering device for vehicles.



G. K. RUDERT.

STEERING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED MAB..7, 1905.

WITNESSES: g J WM PATENTED JAN. 23, 1906.

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GEORGE K. RUDERT, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

STEERING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23, 1906.

Application filed March '7, 1905; Serial No. 248,839.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE K. RUDERT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Wilmington, in the county of Newcastle and State ofDelaware, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SteeringDevices for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to vehicles, and especially to vehicles which areadapted to be pushed-such, for example, as baby-coaches and go-carts.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and efiicient steeringmechanism whereby the vehicle may be steered to one side or the otherwith ease and efficiency and whereby the parts may be automaticallyreturned to normal position to permit the vehicle to be moved straightahead.

Having this object in view, my invention consists in the novelconstruction and com binations of parts, which will be hereinafter fullydescribed and claimed.

' In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a vehiclehaving my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse section, ason the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, the front Wheels being removed.

1 designates a framework, which may form a part of the body portion ofthe vehicle or upon which the body of the vehicle may be mounted. Thisframework comprises the front and back transverse bars or axles 3 and 4,respectively, and the longitudinal bars 5, connecting the transversebars 3 and 4.

6 designates the rear su porting-wheels, which are mounted on spin les7, projecting from the back axle 4, and 8 designates the frontsupporting-wheels, mounted on oppositely-disposed spindles 9, which areprovided on their inner ends with forward extensions 10. The s indles 9are arranged in alinement and arallel to the spindles 7, and the forwarden s of the extensions 10 are pivotally connected to the respective endsof the front axle 3, as at 11, in a manner to pivotally support theframework or body portion 1 of the vehicle forwardly of a line passingthrough the axes of the spindles 9. Thus it will be seen that thespindles 9, and therewith the forward carrying-wheels 8, may be adjustedon the pivots 11 to vary the angularity of the wheels 8 with respect tothe framework 1.

In order to adjust the wheels 8 in unison and to maintain them inparallelism, I provide a rod 12, which is pivotally connected at itsrespective ends to the inner ends of the spindles 9 and which liesparallel to the axle 3 when the spindles 9 are in alinement. This rod 12is made of spring metal, and it is provided about midway of its endswith a bracket 18, carrying a roller 14, which is adapted to bearagainst two oppositely-disposed cams 15, carried by the front axle 3,the junction of the cams being nearer to the axle 3 than the outer endsthereof. The pressure of the spring-rod 12 forces the roller to thejunction of the cams 15, thereby maintaining the spindles 9 normally andyieldingly in alinement. When the spindles 9 and wheels 8 are adjustedout of alinement to vary the angularity of the wheels, the ends of therod 12 are pressed forward, and the roller 14 rolls outwardly againstone of the cams 15. Thus it will be seen that when the pressure employedto move spindles 9 out of alinement is removed the spindles will beautomatically returned into alinement, due to the roller 14 being movedto the junction of the cams 15 by the pressure of the spring-rod 12.

The operation of the invention may be briefly described as follows: Thespindles 9 are maintained normally in alinement and parallel to thespindles 7 by the action of the spring-rod 12, as hereinbeforeexplained. In this position of the parts the vehicle may be movedstraight ahead. When, however, it is desired to steer the vehicle to oneside or the other, any slight pressure exerted upon the vehicle towardeither one side or the other will cause a shifting of the spindles 9,and

therewith the wheels 8, to direct the vehicle toward the side or in thedirection in which the side pressure is exerted. When the side pressureis removed, the action of the springrod 12 will automatically return thespindles 9 into alinement, and the vehicle may again be moved straightahead. The pivoting of the s indles 9 to the body of the vehicle for-Wardl the spindles makes the wheels 8 particularly sensitive inresponding to the side pressure up on the vehicle during the steeringoperation. While I have herein shown and described my invention in adesirable and practicable form, yet I do not limit myself to thisparticular construction, as the same may be greatly modified withoutdeparting from the invention.

y of a line passing through the axes of I claim 1. In a vehicle, thecombination with the body portion thereof, of a pair ofoppositelydisposed spindles each being pivotally connected to the bodyportion forwardly of a line passing through the axes of the spindles,supporting-wheels on the spindles, said spindles being adapted to beadjusted on their pivots to vary the angularity of the wheels to steerthe vehicle, and means for automatically returning said spindles intoalinement after the steering operation.

2. In a vehicle, the combination with the body portion thereof, of apair of oppositelydisposed spindles each being pivotally connected tothe body portion forwardly of a line passing through the axes of thespindles, supporting-wheels on the spindles, connecttions between saidspindles whereby they may be adjusted in unison to vary the angularityof the Wheels to steer the vehicle, and

means for automatically returning said spindles into alinement after thesteering operation.

3. In a Vehicle, the combination with the body portion thereof, of apair of oppositelydisposed spindles each being pivotally connected tothe body portion forwardly of a line passing through the axes of thespindles, supporting-wheels on the spindles, a rod pivotally connectedat its .ends to the spindles whereby they may be adjusted in unison tovary the angularity of the wheels to steer the vehicle, and means foryieldingly maintaining said spindles in alinement.

4.- In a vehicle, the combination with the body portion thereof, of apair of oppositelydisposed spindles each being pivotally connected tothe body portion forwardly of a line passing through the axes of thespindles, supporting-wheels on the spindles, a springrod pivotallyconnected at its ends to the spindles whereby they may be adjusted inunison to Vary the angularity of the wheels to steer the Vehicle, a pairof oppositely-disposed cams, and means on the rod for engaging the camswhereby said cams will cause the rod to automatically return thespindles into alinement after the steering operation.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE K. RUDERT.

I/Vitnesses:

A. V. 'GRoU'PE,

S. G. DOYLE.

